THE STAR OF ZION. "
Official organ of the African
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Founded in 1876. Published eve
ry Thursday at the A. M. E. Zion
Publishing House. Brevard and
Second Streets, Charlotte, North
Carolina.
Entered at the Post Office at
Charlotte, North Carolina as sec
ond class matter. Subscription
rates: One year, $1.50; six months
$1.00. Single copy 5 cents.
All articles for publicatioi
should be sent to the editor, box
117, Charlotte, North Carolina
All communication of a business
nature should be sent to the Gen
eral Manager of the A. M. E.
Zion Publishing House, Char
lotte> North Carolina.
W. J. WALLS, Editor.
S. D. WATKINS, General Man
ager.
THURSDAY JULY 29< 1920
EDITORIALS
JOHN WESLEY ALSTORK
TIRED. LIES DOWN TO
REST.
The gate swings open again
and another is turned in. This
time it is Bishop John Wesley
Alstork. All unwarned and un
suspecting the Church awofye the
morning of July 24th to learn
that the third of its chief pas
tors since the General Conferenct
had passed the evening before
at a Sunday School Convention
at Searcy, Alabama.
Some days before he visited
the sick bed of Rev. J. C. Thomp
son in Birmingham, who died
July 10. In January he laid away
the wife of his youth who went
away as suddenly as he was sool
to depart. Those who witnessed
the Memorial* services in honor
of fallen missionary workers
at Knoxville, Tennessee, can
remember how he sat with bowed
head when the eulogy was pro
nounced upon the memory of his
wife, Mrs. Mamie Alstork. Sym
pathy went out for him- for it
was known that he was a frail
man, and that she had gone at a
time when he needed her most.
His report of his South Amer
ican visitation was filled with wit
and humor, and although he was
less vigorous than of yore, he
showed the old snap and spirit
so characteristic of his palmy
days. Before the General Con
ference he had spoken of retir
ing, but was so much improved
at Knoxville that no one thought
of his retiring at this time. But
alas, how soon is the veil lifted
from our blunted sight by the
sad reality. Bishop Alstork is no
more.
When he was with us a giant
man stood in the midst of men.
He wras bom in Taladega, Ala
bama, September 1, 1852. By
persevering effort he secured an
unusal education for the oppor
tunities of his time and circum
stances at the Longwood Insti
tute where his rapid advance
ment secured for him the posi
tion of assistant teacher, and lat
er at Talladega College.
In 1873 he joined the A. M. E
Zion Church and became a local
preacher in 1878. One year later
he was admitted into the Alaba
ma Conference, and in four years
had been ordained t > both orders
of the ministry. In his pastorate
at Opelika the membership wras
♦doubled. He succeeded Bishop
C. C. Petty in the pastorate of
Old Ship, Montgomery, by the
appointment of Bishop Hood. It
was a new thing for a man devel
oped in the Conference to hold
this pulpit which was the largest
in the State. He paid off the
debt and bought a parsonage
costing $3,000.00, and in foui
years raised $14,000.00 without
giving entertainments. He held
the position of Conference Stew
ard for his Conference and was
for several Quadrenniums Gener
al Steward of th6 A. M. E. Zion
Church.
His election to the Bishopric
was unique. It was done in 1900
at Washington, D. C., when the
rules were suspended and Dr
Alstork was elected by acclama
tion. It was but a reward 'and
compliment to this tried servant
of God whom his brethren loved
and trusted* and proved to he a
new inspiration to the Southwest
where he was the first Bishop tc
be produced for Zion. His labor?,
in Zion were many and large. He
was a tireless worker and vindi
cated the wisdom of the Church
in choosing him for first place.
Lomax-Hannon Industrial and
Normal School by his genius and
industrious vigilance shot up
as by magic. The Alabama, Flori
da, Mississippi and Georgia Con
ferences rallied by him to this ed.
u^a.uuxiai xov wuu *** «
way he set the standard for lo
cal self help in the establishment
of our schools. He was none the
less interested in the .general ed
ucation in the Church, and was a
most forward looking trustee of
Livingstone College^ doing al
ways his share in raising the
standard of our chief Connection
al School.
Bishop Alstork organized the
new Alabama Conferences and
their wide and substantial growth
justified the" action of him and
(the leaders w'ho saw with him
the greater Zion in the State
which stands second in her nu
merical strength. He was a phil
osophic preacher, and had a wide
information gotten from travel
and study. God endowed him
with fine powers of leadership
and few men knew a man’s pos
sibilities for service better than
he. His men held him in idolizing
affection and there were no
bounds to their confidence and
reverence for his leadership.
Of a tall body and striking vis
age he wore side burns and
walked with erect poise and head
leaning studiously forward thal
would attract the attention of a
stranger anywhere he passed.
His heart was kind and was
sometimes imposed upon by de
signing men. He -had (laid the
foundation of a personal fortune
before he entered the ministry,
and by frugal habits of industry
he built his fortune to a comfort
able income so that he could have
lived a retired life above the
pinch of need. Livingstone Col
lege gave him Doctor of Divinity.
He was National Grand Master
of the York Rite Masons- and a
trustee of several schools. Talla
dega College honored him as one
of its most distinguished sons and
Booker Washington called him!
the leading race light in the
otatc.
He was a delegate to the Lon
don and Toronto Ecumenical Con
ferences and had traveled or
three continents.
Theo. Roosevelt and Wm. Me
Kinley were acquainted with him
and courted his counsel. He was
our first missionary Bishop tc
South America and goes down
in history by his philanthropy,
statesmanship, and ehurchly wis
dom, the maker of a new era for
Zion'in Latin America.
A prince in Zion and a race
leader of might and imposing
soul has gone from our world.
His spirit passed in music
through heaven’s morning gate
and his fellowmen linger longing
ly upon the memory of a man
who lived for them and worked
was tired and laid down to rest.
“Oh what glory doth this
world put on;
For him who with a fervent
heart,
Goes forth under a bright and
glowing sky.
And looks on duties well per
formed and days well spent.
For him the wind shall have a
voice, eye, and the yellow
leaves
And shall give him eloquent
teachings
And he shall go to his long rest
ing place without a tear."—
Longfellow.
LOOKS LIKE A WINNER.
The acceptance speech of Can
didate Harding is an upstanding
human document and voices the
universal opinion of the living
and burning questions. He rings
out against one man rule in our
republican form of government
as against Avhat the fathers in
tended. He decries partisan au
tocracy as well as presidential
personal dominance of the pub
lic will. The League of Nations
as framed up at the long table
in Paris he reads out of court
and submits an intention to give
the Nation first a practical peace
independent of the League by
the action of the Senate and the
acquiescence of the President.
He calls upon labor and capital to
regard the personal touch in the
struggle with their problems and
regard the sincere desire of each
to solve them for the common
good and thereby would bring
them upon terms of justice and
amity.
He smokes out the traitors of
tue nag wnu seex yie vitais ot
our democracy, and object to the
rule of the majority and would
raise the red flag of Russian ruin
over our fair America.
He stands out for the farmei"
and pleads for production com
mensurate with the high wages
a better budget system, stronger
Federal Departments, the resjjp
ration of the protective tariff, a
merchant marine and a great
navy to protect it, the best small
army in the world, a standard
ized immigration, a Wetter and
more equitable tax system, ete.,
are handled with a trust that it
convincing by this ‘‘Daniel come
to judgment.”
But what seems the index to a
heroic- humanitarian heart sounds
out in these words: “I believe
the Negro citizens of America
should be guaranteed the enjoy
ment of all their rights.” This is
the ring of a heart that heedf
the dictates of justice .and human
brotherhood. If he had said nc
more than this, which we are dis
posed to accept in good faith,
we would have a broad and ample
creed on this pressing problem.
But further he gives good reason
for the faith that is in him. He
says: ‘‘that they (the Negroes)
have earned the full measure of
citizenship bestowed; that their
sacrifices in blood on the battle
fields of the republic have enti
tled them to all of freedom and
opportunity, and of sympathy
and aid, that the American spirit
of fairness and justice demands.”
\\ e could wish for no more in
speech. Mr. Harding has attract
ed our attention to his voice that
sounds like sweet music from the
political world which we have
come to suspect for the most pari
insincere and full of. fair seeming
only. We are prepared to sup
port him and any other public
man who is willing to give us
what we have earned in toils and
nume ana on name
fields. But when he goes further
and holds out his hand in sympa
thy and aid that the American
spirit of fairness and justice de
mands,” we throw up our hats
and shout, ‘‘Bravo.” But hear
, another article of his creed upon
a subject vital to all Americans.
‘‘I believe,” he says, “that the<
Federal Government should stamp
out lynching and remove that
stain • from the fair name of
America.” No such words have
been heard since the wizard of
Sagamore Hill strode about the
political arena. Every time the
Republican party standard bear
ers have spoken from the shoul
| ders and fearlessly declared for
the “spirit of American fairness”
for every individual .and. element
of citizens living under the flag
the party has been put in power
to carry it out. Harding and
Coolidge are both speaking out
in meeting. The nation is sick of
the mob and they are truly our
exponents. Let it be remembered
that America believes in a Presi
dent who believes himself to be
the selection of God as Senator
Harding sets forth in the words:
“With an unalterable faith and
in a hopeful Spirit? with a hymn
of service in my heart, I pledge
fidelity to my country and to God
and accept the nomination of the
Republican party for the Presi
dency of the United States.”
Looks like a winner, sure.
THE ROSENWALD CHAL
LENGE.
Julius Rosenwald has already
given $350,000 to Colored Y. M.
C. A. Buildings. Washington.
Baltimore, New York, Philadel
phia, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, At
lanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, St
Louis, Columbus- Indianapolis,
and Kansas City have taken ad
vantage of his conditional offers
and met them. These bulidings
erected by funds raised by both
white and colored gifts and sup
plemented by Mr. Rosenwald
have been recently surveyed by?
him. He comes forward with a
new offer to any city which will
meet the condition of raising
$125,000 to secure his offer of
$25,000. In making his late
proposition to any city which will
accept the challenge he observes,
“since the original offer new and
unexpected conditions have de
veloped, especially in the indus
trial centers of the North. The
Negro migration has added large
numbers to the Colored popula
tion in many cities. Race rela
tions show an increasing strain,
but to help counteract this there
is an increased interest in the
welfare of Negroes.” “This in
creased interest,” He says, “is
promoted by the Y. M. C. A
Buildings.” He could have added
with equal truth the Urban
League and National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People. But although a Jews
he should not fail to see tha*
the Christian Church is waking
up to the new issues and has
never failed to help the race for
ward in the moral and spiritual
essentials^ Let other cities take
up Mr. (^Rosenwald- for who
knows but that he is “Come into
the kingdom for such a time as
this.”
PARAGRAPHS.
The great Andrew Cartwright
Memorial heading up to the Wo
man’s Meeting at Petersburg, if
the most praiseworthy enterprise
which our women are engaged
in at the beginning of the new
Quadrennium. Rev. Cartwright
was our first missionary to Afri
ca, and laid the foundation for
all our foreign work upon which
Bishops Small, Walters- Clement
and Wood have built.
Testimonials will also be made
to Bishops Small and Walters.
God is blessing our missionary
work as never before. The spe
cial offering asked will, of course,
be forthcoming everywhere. Mrs.
A. W. Blackwell is working the
field, as she always do.es.
Miss Daisy Johnson is ably at
the helm also as President, and
a royal gathering is expected at
Petersburg.
Rev. W. H. Ely> D. D., recently
assigned to St. Stephen’s church
Asbury Park, New Jersey, re
ports his church work in a mos4
thriving and encouraging condi
tion.
His collection started off well
and are increasing every Sabbath.
He has had more than 30 acces
sions to the church in less than
two months. He also reports
that his wife’s health is greatly
improved since residing here.
A postal card containing tht
following was handed us by Bish
op Clinton from the Rev. P. C.
VanBuren:
‘‘The members of the church
loaned $1,500.00 on cash pay
ment, and we have just recorded
deeds taking over a fine three
family house, the rent from which
will take care of every obliga
tion. On Goode Street, between
two parks one half block from
school* not far from church. Gas.
Electricity. Bath Sixty-five hun
dred ,fe,et of land. Sale Price, six
thousand. Will make a splendio
parsonage.”
Rev. Van Buren, who is one of
our very successful pastors, and
a strong rospel preacher*; hat
not yet completed two months ir
our splendid church at Worces
ter. This achievement is an index
to what is yet to come.
Governor Edwin P. Morrow, of
Kentucky, held an Interracial
Conference in Louisville July 23
and 24 to consider certain wider
aspects of the race problem. A
number of such meetings had
been held in the Counties, and
the State Secretary of the Y. M.
C. A.t Mr. J. A. Bond, seems to be
the moving spirit who interested
the Governor in one for the State
The outcome will doubtless be
very salutary in good inter-racial
feeling, and in giving the color
ed man a better chance economi
cally. 'educationally and religi
ously.
Dr. John W. Walker, of Ashe
ville, N. C., who is one of the
ablest physicians of the South,
holds exceptional rank in the
profession in his city and State
He is a tuberculosis specialist,
and from all lands they flock to
‘The Land of the Sky’ to be
treated by him. He is Superin
tendent of the Hopkins Chapel
Sunday School, and the first cit
izen of the race in Western North
Carolina. No important move
ment nor issue in the interest of
race and nation is launched in
Asheville without his support
and counsel.
Mr. W. J. Trent, Executive
Secretary of the Atlanta Y. M.
C. A.< who has achieved the re
markable feat of erecting th<=
model Y, M. C. A. home of the
country, and the largest in the
South, has been resting in the
North Carolina Mountains, hif
native State, for three weeks. He
visited Dr. John W, Walker, his
college-mate, in Asheville, and
his father-in-law, Mr. Thad. L..
Tate and family in Charlotte.
Mrs. Trent and the baby made
the city this week.
St. Paul A. M. E. Zion church*
of Little Rock, Arkansas, is all
smiles at this writing. fWe hail
with joy the coming of Rev. N. T.
Hunter as pastor from St. John
church, East St. Louis, 111., to
our city. We thank Bishop P.
A. Wallace for sending us this
great gospel preacher. Rev.
Hunter made a glorious impres
sion on Sunday night, July 18th.
J. M. NELSON, Trustee.
The National Federation of
Colored Women’s Clubs at their
recent session elected Miss Hallie
Q. Brown, President. She is the
most distinguished elocutionist
of her sex which the race has ever
produced. But besides this Miss
Brown is a teacher and agitator
for the rights of her people. Her
imperial powers will new be used
in an exceedingly large sphere
and the race will greatly profit
thereby.
The St. Paul church at Cleve
land, Ohio, is being generaled to
astonishing success by Rev. E,
D. W. Bell. July 18th, $3,000.00
w as raised in a rally, and more
than $5,000.00 has been raised
since last October. Bishop Clem
ent visited and preached here
June 20th, and made a profound
impression. Dr. Bell is a capa
ble man and We may still look
for greater things from Cleveland
under his undaunted lead.
One of our miracle working
pastors is Rev. E. P. Rollins, of
Washington, North Carolina. He
is blind, but works with an inner
eye, and the Washington church
is having its best days with his
lead, and his wife’s faithful as
sistance. Sunday, July 18, he
raised $1,200 in his rally. The
pastor and members are happy.
Rev. Howie, of Hopkins chapel,
Asheville, North Carolina, has
held the first section of his rally
and twenty nine hundred dollars
was raised- and when the next
section eomes off next month he
expects to free the church of
debt. We believe he will do it.
Presiding Elder W. O. Carson,
of the Cheraw, South Carolina
District, is holding his District
Sunday School Convention this
week. He makes no blunders, and
One Thousand New Subscribers Wanted In August.
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